KP: is he really like Sir Viv?

Kevin Pietersen is routinely compared to Sir Vivian Richards, writes Gary Palmer. But what could England’s best batsman learn from Sir Viv? And why isn’t it a good idea for you to copy KP’s technique – unless you’re a batting genius?

Pietersen: looking to hit square 

KP has a good eye, is good at improvising and is not afraid of risks. These are similarities he has with Viv Richards.

However, he could minimise risks more than he does at the moment by fine tuning his technique, broadening his scoring options and becoming more consistent. 

His preferred scoring areas are square of the wicket on the leg side: higher-risk options, that involve playing across the line, with half a bat. Even when KP hits a ball through mid-on, it’s often a delivery he has dragged from off-stump by hitting across his front pad and the line of the ball. This makes him vulnerable to being bowled or trapped leg before. 

KP’s initial trigger movement causes his backswing to go back over leg stump. From that position, it’s difficult to hit the ball towards mid-off and straight extra cover. These are two safe scoring areas where he could hit the ball more consistently, with a minimum risk of getting out.

To hit the ball in the ‘V’, you must swing the bat in a straight line from the top of your backswing through to target area with a full blade of the bat. If you do this, you can hit length balls along the ground (or for six) more consistently; risks are minimal.

Because KP looks to score square, he tips to the offside. Then, when the ball is straight, he ends up around his front pad, playing with ‘half a bat’ and limiting his options to play straight.

This inhibits him, especially when he is occupying the crease or trying to milk the bowling – especially the spinners.

Sir Viv: a better defence than Boycott

Richards batted at 3 and had the perfect technique: he was well balanced, well aligned and his finishing positions were excellent. I had the privilege of seeing him up close when we played together at Somerset. When he wanted to improvise there was nobody better. His flair was allied to a sound basic technique. Even when he hit a straight ball through mid–wicket, Viv did it by swinging the bat in a straight line towards the ball, with a high leading elbow. All he did was to close the face on impact with the ball, which is a low risk shot.

Viv could destroy top-quality bowling. But he also had a defence as good as
Geoff Boycott’s and was a master of milking the bowling with a minimum risk
of getting out. He used the full face of the bat and looked to score down the ground when possible: Viv’s preferred scoring option to half volleys and good length balls was down the ground. He would rather hit down the ground over a fielder’s head for six, with the full face of the bat, than aim at a leg side gap with half a bat. KP generally prefers the latter.

How KP could be more like Sir Viv

KP could become more consistent and versatile if his preferred scoring options were straighter down the ground. Ways in which he could adapt his technique include:

• Work on his initial trigger movement. This sees him tip slightly to the off-side. He also moves too early and ends up static before the ball is bowled. KP could try moving back and across in the instant before the ball is bowled,. His back foot should land outside the line of his head, which stays still. This trigger would open him up, thus giving him access to hit in the V. He could delay planting his front foot until he had slighted the line of the ball. This would allow him to align himself to the various lines of delivery so the bat could swing in a straight line through the target area, with a full blade. This would reduce his vulnerability to being bowled or caught lbw.

• The alignment of his feet and shoulders needs to improve so, when he plays a straight drive, his front foot is not across the line of his back foot. It’s better if his feet are in line, so the bat can swing in a straight line to the ball with the full face for the maximum amount of time. This lengthens his hitting zone and puts him in a great position to improvise.

• He could stand with his shoulders slightly more open, so his head is pointing up the wicket and directly above his body – thus improving his feet alignment. This will also help him pick the bat up over off stump more consistently, rather than over the leg as he does now. 

l When playing left-arm spinners, with the ball pitching on leg stump, KP could plant his feet inside the line of the delivery with both feet pointing straight up the wicket. This way, he can let the ball turn and arrive in line with his head and body, making him well aligned to hit over mid-on on the up with the full blade of the bat or to hit the ball over midwicket. Currently, he tends to put his left-foot out wide towards the legside and then plays away from his body after the ball has turned away from him.

Conclusion

KP works at his game, though he is reluctant to tamper with his basic instincts or technique. But being England’s best player does not mean he can’t improve. World class performers are constantly fine-tuning and KP could be even better if he took a few leaves out of Sir Viv’s book. 

These are small changes for a player of KP’s ability and would allow him to bat successfully at No 3; where all the best attacking players in the world bat. He could score big hundreds more consistently and be even more of an asset than he already is.

Gary Palmer has been batting coach to many county and international players and has helped a series of young players win county contracts. For info on courses and one-to-one coaching: ccmacademy.co.uk